Sanofi's Obesity Drug May Help
Smokers Quit, Sans Weight Gain

LONDON -- An experimental drug shows promise in helping people to quit smoking and avoid the weight gain that often comes with kicking the habit.

In recent clinical trials, Sanofi-Synthelabo SA's new obesity drug Rimonabant was given to 360 smokers during a four-week period. About 30% of those who took the drug abstained from lighting up during the last week of treatment, compared with 15% of those who took a placebo, a company...